Stair.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- STAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed August 1, 1907. Serial No. 386,681.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE VANCE MATTE- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fruitvale, in the county of Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stairs;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stair construction.

The object of the invention is to construct a flight of stairs, eachstep of which is pivotally and yieldingly supported, thereby providing acushion effect for the stairs which will relieve any jar to a personascending or descending the stairs. 4

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewthrough a flight of stairs constructed in accordance with the invention;and Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1 on the line 22and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the stairs, whichcomprise the usual side pieces or stringers 2, between which arearranged the steps of the stairs. The steps are provided with a tread 3,which is pivotally connected at its ends adjacent to the rear edgesthereof to the stringers, as shown at 4.

The forward edges of the treads are secured to risers 5, the lower edgesof which are supported at their opposite ends upon cushions that may bein the form of coiled springs 6 as herein shown, or in the form of arubber or other yielding support. The springs or cushions are supportedor rest upon suitable brackets 7 secured-to the stringers below thesteps, as shown.

By mounting the steps of a flight of stairs I as herein shown anddescribed, the steps will be depressed slightly by the weight of the Iperson ascending and descending and will return to their originalosition after the weight has been removec therefrom. This yielding orcushion action of the stairs greatly facilitates the climbing ordescending of the same and entirely prevents any ar to the person usingthe same.

It will be noticed that the tread and its supporting riser are rigidlyconnected whereby a closed joint is formed between the two. At the loweredge each riser extends down behind the rear edge ofthe tread next belowand is supported by a bracket held spring.

visible, and in which the opening is vertical so as to avoid lodgment ofdust or other ob structions.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extended. exlanation.

Various changes in the orm, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by LettersPatent, is

In a stair, a pair of stringers, a plurality of treads between saidstringers, rods fixed to and projecting from the ends of said treadsnear their inner edges, and forming pivotal connection between saidtreads and stringers, risers rigidly secured under the. outer edges ofsaid treads and extending below the upper face of the next lower tread,and against the inner edge of said lower tread, a bracket under saidriser below the level of said tread, a coiled spring on said bracket,and supporting said riser.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JESSE VANCE MATTESON. Witnesses:

H. A. BROWN, G. A. FARAIiAY.

This provides a oint in which no opening is

